Image processing apparatus, method for controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes a touch panel display configured to display an execution button provided to perform processing using a function of the image processing apparatus and realized in the form of a software key, and detect a user operation onto the execution button. The image processing apparatus includes an adjustment unit configured to adjust, in an instruction portion of a user, a time since the execution button is touched until the execution button is released therefrom according to a user operation.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and amethod for controlling the image processing apparatus, and a storagemedium storing a program for performing the control method.

Description of the Related Art

Some of image processing apparatuses having the scan function, the printfunction, and the like are equipped with a hardware key as an operationunit that receives a user operation. An execution button, which is anexample of the hardware key, is a key for performing processing usingthe function of the image processing apparatus, and, for example, whenthe execution button is selected after a print condition is set on asetting screen, print processing is performed according to this printcondition.

On the other hand, there are also image processing apparatuses thatinclude no hardware key and allow all inputs to be entered on a touchpanel with the aim of a cost reduction and design improvement due to theminiaturization of the operation unit. Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2016-226044 discusses a configuration that realizes allkeys including the execution button on the touch panel display.

Realizing the execution button in the form of the software key allowsthe execution button to be selected with a relatively lower pressurethan when realizing the execution button in the form of the hardwarekey. On the other hand, the execution button may be undesirably selectedby mistake with the sleeve of the user's clothes or the like dependingon how the user operates the image processing apparatus, and unintendedprocessing such as copying or faxing may be accidentally performed. As aresult, wasteful consumption of paper, an information leak due toincorrect fax transmission, and the like undesirably occur.

One conceivable measure against it is to lower the sensitivity to afixed level only for the execution button, but it is difficult todetermine which sensitivity makes the user feel easy to use theexecution button or whether it is better not to lower the sensitivity.The sensitivity here means a touch determination time taken since thebutton is touched until the button is released before the processingcorresponding to the button is performed, and the touch determinationtime is to be increased to lower the sensitivity. On the other hand, thetouch determination time is to be reduced to raise the sensitivity ofthe button.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an execution button havingsensitivity desired by the user.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image processingapparatus includes a touch panel display configured to display a firstsoftware key for performing processing using a function of the imageprocessing apparatus and a second software key, and detect a useroperation onto the first software key and the second software key. Theimage processing apparatus includes an adjustment unit configured toadjust, in an instruction portion of a user, a time since the firstsoftware key is touched until the first software key is releasedtherefrom according to a user operation.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of animage processing apparatus 101.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E illustrate examples of screens displayed onan operation unit 123.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the software configuration of theimage processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining a touchdetermination time by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the operationunit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining the touchdetermination time by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the operationunit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining the touchdetermination time by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the operationunit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, representative exemplary embodiments forimplementing the present disclosure will be described with reference tothe drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates the hardware configuration of an image processingapparatus 101 to which each exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure is applicable. Referring to FIG. 1, a central processing unit(CPU) 111, a random access memory (RAM) 112, a read only memory (ROM)113, an input unit interface (I/F) 114, a display unit I/F 115, anexternal memory I/F 120, a communication I/F controller 122, a printerI/F 124, and a scanner I/F 126 are connected to a system bus 110.Further, a touch panel 116, a display 119, and an external memory 121are connected to the system bus 110. Each of the units connected to thesystem bus 110 is configured to be able to exchange data between eachother via the system bus 110.

The ROM 113 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores image data, other data,various kinds of programs used for the CPU 111 to operate, and the likein respective predetermined areas therein.

The RAM 112 is a volatile memory, and is used as temporary storageareas, such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 111. Further,the RAM 112 is also used as a storage area for storing image displayinformation.

A hard disk drive (HDD) 117 is a readable and writable nonvolatilestorage device, and stores therein various kinds of data, such as aprogram for controlling the entire image processing apparatus 101,various kinds of application programs, and setting information.

The CPU 111 controls each of the units of this image processingapparatus 101 using the RAM 112 as the work memory according to theprogram stored in the ROM 113 or the external memory 121.

An operation unit 123 is an interface that allows a user to operate theimage processing apparatus 101 via the input unit I/F 114 and thedisplay unit I/F 115. Further, the operation unit 123 is formed by acombination of the touch panel 116 and the display 119, and can beconfigured in a plurality of forms.

The input unit I/F 114 receives a user operation, generates a controlsignal according to the operation, and supplies it to the CPU 111. Forexample, the input unit I/F 114 includes a device used to inputcharacter information and issue an instruction to perform processing,such as a keyboard (not illustrated), a pointing device, such as a mouse(not illustrated) and the touch panel 116, and/or the like, as an inputdevice that receives the user operation.

The touch panel 116 is an input device configured to output coordinateinformation according to a position touched on, for example, an inputunit configured in a planar manner. The CPU 111 controls each of theunits of this image processing apparatus 101 according to the programbased on the control signal generated and supplied by the input unit I/F114 according to the user operation performed on the input device. As aresult, the user can cause the image processing apparatus 101 to operateaccording to the user operation. The mouse (not illustrated) may besubstituted for that. The touch panel 116 may be a pressure-sensitivetouch panel, which determines the user operation based on a pressure ofa finger of the user, or may be a capacitance touch panel, whichdetermines the user operation based on an electric current on thesurface of the touch panel 116 that is changed by the touch operation.

The display unit I/F 115 outputs a display signal for displaying animage to the display 119. The CPU 111 supplies a generated displaycontrol signal to the display unit IF 115 according to the program. Thedisplay unit I/F 115 displays a graphical user interface (GUT) screenforming a GUI on the display 119 based on this display control signal.

The touch panel 116 is configured integrally with the display 119. Thetouch panel 116 is configured in such a manner that a lighttransmittance thereof does not disturb the display on the display 119,and is mounted on an upper layer of a display surface of the display119. Then, the CPU 111 associates an input coordinate on the touch panel116 and a display coordinate on the display 119 with each other. Thisconfiguration can construct a GUI that appears as if the user candirectly operate a screen displayed on the display 119.

The external memory I/F 120 is configured to allow the external memory121, such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, a compact disk (CD), a digitalversatile disk (DVD), or a memory card, to be attached thereto. Theexternal memory I/F 120 reads out data from the mounted external memory121 and writes data into this external memory 121 based on the controlby the CPU 111.

The communication I/F controller 122 is in charge of communicationdirected to various kinds of networks 102, such as a local area network(LAN), the Internet, wired communication network, and wirelesscommunication network, based on the control by the CPU 111.

The printer I/F 124 is an interface for connecting a printer 125 and thesystem bus 110 to each other. Image data that is to be printed by theprinter 125 is transferred from the system bus 110 via the printer I/F124, and is printed onto a recording medium (onto paper) by the printer125.

The scanner I/F 126 is an interface for connecting a scanner 127 and thesystem bus 110 to each other. The scanner 127 reads out an image on adocument to generate image data, and inputs the generated image data tothe system bus 110 via the scanner I/F 126.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the software configuration of the imageprocessing apparatus 101 according to the present exemplary embodiment.In the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU 111 controls the RAM 112,the ROM 113, the input unit I/F 114, the display unit I/F 115, theprinter I/F 124, and the scanner I/F 126 via the system bus 110 for anexchange between the illustrated software modules, unless otherwisespecifically indicated.

The image processing apparatus 101 includes a screen display controlunit 301, a screen input control unit 302, an authentication processingunit 303, applications 304, a time management unit 306, a start keycontrol unit 305, and a job execution button control unit 307.

The screen display control unit 301 mainly performs processing formanaging a screen of the entire application 304 and transferringinformation about the screen to the display 119, and processing fornotifying the application 304 of an event input from the touch panel116.

The input unit I/F 114 converts the operation from the touch panel 116into a signal, and the screen input control unit 302 receives andanalyzes this signal and converts it into an event format that can betransmitted to the application 304. Then, the screen input control unit302 instructs the screen display control unit 301 for a notification ofthis input signal.

The authentication processing unit 303 displays an authentication screenon the display 119, and carries out user authentication usingauthentication information such as a user identification (ID) and apassword input from the user onto the touch panel 116. If the userauthentication has succeeded, the authentication processing unit 303performs login processing for allowing the user to log in to the imageprocessing apparatus 101. When a logout instruction is issued, theauthentication processing unit 303 performs logout processing forallowing the user logging in at this time to log out from the imageprocessing apparatus 101.

The applications 304 are a group of applications that run on the imageprocessing apparatus 101, and the CPU 111 causes each of theapplications 304 to operate according to the user operation via thescreen input control unit 302. Representative examples among theapplications 304 provided in the image processing apparatus 101 are asfollows.

-   -   a “copy” function that prints, by the printer 125, the image        data generated by reading out the image on the document by the        scanner 127

a “print” function that prints image data based on a print job fed froman external apparatus, such as a personal computer (PC), by the printer125

a “scan and transmit” function that transmits the image data generatedby reading out the image on the document by the scanner 127 to outsidevia the communication I/F controller 122

a “scan and store” function that stores the image data generated byreading out the image on the document by the scanner 127 into theexternal memory 121

a “use a stored file” function that prints the image data stored in theexternal memory 121 by the printer 125 or transmits it to outside viathe communication I/F controller 122

a “browser” function that browses, prints, and/or stores data on a webserver via a web browser

The applications 304 provided in the image processing apparatus 101 arenot limited to the above-described examples, and an application can alsobe added later according to an instruction from the user.

The start key control unit 305 detects by the screen input control unit302 that a start key, which will be described below, is pressed, andtransmits a notification to execute the start key to the application304. Upon receiving the notification to execute the start key, theapplication 304 conducts the corresponding function.

The time management unit 306 manages the current time since the imageprocessing apparatus 101 is started up, and provides a notification ofthe current time according to an instruction from the start key controlunit 305 or the job execution button control unit 307.

The job execution button control unit 307 is a function of controlling ajob execution button. The job execution button refers to a buttoncustomized by the user that exists as a button other than applicationbuttons prepared on the image processing apparatus 101 in advance (forexample, a print button, a scan button, and the like). For example,supposing that a job execution button for carrying out copying withtwo-sided printing and a 2-in-1 layout set as conditions is generated bya user operation, these conditions are stored into the HDD 117 by thejob execution button control unit 307. Further, the job execution buttoncontrol unit 307 detects that the registered job execution button ispressed and calls the corresponding application 304, and executes theapplication 304 according to the conditions registered in advance andstored in the HDD 117.

Screens displayed on the display 119 will be described with reference toFIGS. 2A to 2E. FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a home screen forselecting the application 304 of the image processing apparatus 101. Acopy button 201 is a button for calling an application for copying, and,when the screen input control unit 302 detects a user operation thereon,the screen display control unit 301 causes the screen to transition toFIG. 2B.

A login button 202 is a button for carrying out the user authentication,and, when the screen input control unit 302 detects a user operationthereon, the screen display control unit 301 causes the screen totransition to FIG. 2C.

A setting/registration button 203 is a button for configuring varioussettings of the image processing apparatus 101, and, when the screeninput control unit 302 detects a user operation thereon, the screendisplay control unit 301 causes the screen to transition to FIG. 2D.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a setting screen of the applicationfor copying. A start key 204 is a button for performing processingaccording to the contents of the setting screen. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2B, because the setting screen for copying isdisplayed, the copy processing is performed when the start key 204 ispressed. The conditions when the copy processing is performed are set asillustrated in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2C illustrates an example of the authentication screen. When alogin button 207 is pressed with the authentication information input ina username 205 and a password 206, the authentication processing unit303 carries out the user authentication according to the inputauthentication information.

FIG. 2D illustrates a screen example of a setting/registration screenfor a user having an administrator authority. If the user logs in as theuser having the administrator authority and presses thesetting/registration button 203 in FIG. 2C, the setting/registrationscreen is displayed with an item 208 added thereto. In other words,items displayed on the setting/registration screen, including the item208, vary according to the login status. The present exemplaryembodiment will be described, assuming that the item 208 is notdisplayed unless the administrator logs in. The setting/registrationscreen may be configured to hide the item 208 or display the item 208 ina gray-out manner so as to prohibit it from being selected, when theuser logging in at this time is not the administrator.

The item 208 is an item for adjusting a touch determination time of thestart key 204, and, when the item 208 is pressed, the screen displaycontrol unit 301 causes the screen to transition to FIG. 2E.

FIG. 2E illustrates an example of a screen for adjusting the touchdetermination time of the start key 204. As will be used herein, thetouch determination time refers to a time since the start key 204 istouched by an instruction portion of the user until the start key 204 isreleased. In other words, the start key 204 is not executed until thestart key 204 is kept pressed for a time equal to the touchdetermination time or a time longer than that.

A button 209 and a button 210 are buttons for adjusting the touchdetermination time of the start key 204, and a knob 211 is movedleftward when the button 209 is pressed and moved rightward when thebutton 210 is pressed. The knob 211 indicates the current setting valueof the touch determination time of the start key 204, and the settingvalue can be changed in nine levels. The touch determination time of thestart key 204 reduces when the knob 211 is located in the leftdirection, and increases when the knob 211 is located in the rightdirection. The knob 211 indicates the touch determination time of thestart key 204 set to the minimum value when being located at the leftend, and indicates the touch determination time of the start key 204 setto the maximum value when being located at the right end.

The touch determination time of the start key 204 set to the minimumvalue means such a setting that the start key 204 is executed if thetime since the start key 204 is pressed until the finger is separatedtherefrom is 0 milliseconds (msec) or longer. In this case, thepredetermined processing is supposed to be performed even if the startkey 204 is only released immediately after being touched by the useroperation. On the other hand, the touch determination time of the startkey 204 set to the maximum value means such a setting that the start key204 is executed if the time since the start key 204 is pressed until thefinger is separated therefrom is 200 msec or longer, and the start key204 is not executed unless being kept in the pressed state for a certaintime.

The knob 211 allows the touch determination time of the start key 204 tobe adjusted in increments of 25 msec, and the touch determination timeincreases by 25 msec each time the knob 211 is moved by one step fromthe left end to the right end.

The initial value of the touch determination time of the start key 204is 25 msec, and this indicates that the knob 211 is located at theposition illustrated in FIG. 2E.

A button 212 is a button for finalizing the touch determination time ofthe start key 204 adjusted using the button 209 or the button 210.

The knob 211 is moved using the button 209 or the button 210, but thetouch determination time of the start key 204 may be adjusted bydirectly operating the knob 211 or directly inputting the setting value.Further, the touch determination time of the start key 204 can beadjusted in nine levels, but may be adjustable steplessly. Further, thetouch determination time can be adjusted from 0 msec to 200 msec, butthe adjustable range may be further widened.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processes for executingthe start key 204 only when the finger is separated after thepredetermined time has elapsed since the pressing of the start key 204according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Eachoperation illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is realized by the CPU111 of the image processing apparatus 101 reading out the controlprogram stored in the ROM 113 or the external memory 121 into the RAM112 and executing it. The present flow is started by the CPU 111detecting that the image processing apparatus 101 is started up.

In step S401, the screen input control unit 302 determines whether thestart key 204 is pressed. If the screen input control unit 302determines that the start key 204 is pressed (YES in step S401), theprocessing proceeds to step S402. On the other hand, if the screen inputcontrol unit 302 determines that the start key 204 is not pressed (NO instep S401), the processing returns to step S401.

In step S402, the start key control unit 305 acquires the time at whichthe start key 204 has been pressed from the time management unit 306,and stores it into the RAM 112. In the present example, suppose that thetouched time is “Jan. 1, 2019 at 09:32:11:022”.

In step S403, the screen input control unit 302 determines whether thefinger is separated from the start key 204. If the screen input controlunit 302 determines that the finger is separated from the start key 204(YES in step S403), the processing proceeds to step S404. On the otherhand, if the screen input control unit 302 determines that the finger isnot separated from the start key 204 (NO in step S403), the processingreturns to step S403.

In step S404, the start key control unit 305 acquires the time at whichthe finger has been separated from the start key 204 from the timemanagement unit 306, and stores it into the RAM 112. In the presentexample, suppose that the released time is “Jan. 1, 2019 at09:32:11:052”.

After that, in step S405, the start key control unit 305 acquires thedifference between the time stored in step S404 and the time stored instep S402, and calculates the time length since the start key 204 hasbeen pressed until the finger has been separated therefrom. Then, thestart key control unit 305 acquires the touch determination time set inFIG. 2E from the RAM 112, and determines whether the calculated timelength is equal to or longer than the set touch determination time. Forexample, when the touch determination time is set to the initial valueas illustrated in FIG. 2E, the start key control unit 305 determineswhether the calculated time length is 25 msec or longer.

If the start key control unit 305 determines that the calculated timelength is equal to or longer than the set touch determination time (YESin step S405), the processing proceeds to step 406. On the other hand,if the start key control unit 305 determines that the calculated timelength is not equal to or longer than the set touch determination time(NO in step S405), the processing ends without anything performed.

In step S406, the start key control unit 305 transmits the notificationto execute the start key 204 to the currently displayed application 304,and the corresponding application 304 performs the processing. Morespecifically, since the time at which the start key 204 has been touchedis “Jan. 1, 2019 at 09:32:11:022” and the time at which the start key204 has been released is “Jan. 1, 2019 at 09:32:11:052”, the differencetherebetween is “30” msec. Because this difference exceeds the “25”msec, which is the touch determination time, the processing proceeds tostep S406 and the processing according to the start key 204 isperformed.

Assume that, when the start key 204 is touched by the user, the displaymanner of the start key 204 (for example, the color, the shape, thesize, and the like thereof) is changed to make the user aware that thestart key 204 is in the touched state. Assume that the display manner ofthe start key 204 is changed according to the detection of the touchoperation, and returns to the state before the touch operation isdetected when the release of the start key 204 is detected regardless ofthe result of the determination about the touch determination time.

In this manner, the touch determination time can be adjusted by the useroperation, and the start key 204 can be executed only when the timesince the start key 204 is pressed until the finger is separatedtherefrom is equal to or longer than the touch determination time. As aresult, the operational feeling desired by the user can be realized.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

The first exemplary embodiment has been described regarding theconfiguration in which the user logs in with the administrator authorityand adjusts the touch determination time of the start key 204. Thisconfiguration means that the result of setting the touch determinationtime in FIG. 2D is applied regardless of the login user. The presentexemplary embodiment will be described regarding a configuration inwhich the touch determination time of the start key 204 can be set foreach login user. In other words, assume that the touch determinationtime set with the administrator logging in is applied only when theadministrator is logging in, and the touch determination time set with auser A logging in is applied only when the user A is logging in. Thedescriptions of features already described in the first exemplaryembodiment will be omitted below.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example when the screen for adjusting the touchdetermination time of the start key 204 is displayed with the user Alogging in in FIG. 2D, and illustrates the screen with the touchdetermination time of the start key 204 set in the longest state.

The setting/registration button 203 is selected with the user A loggingin, and the item 208 is displayed. As a result, the screen illustratedin FIG. 5 is displayed. The item 208 is an item displayed with theadministrator logging in similarly to the item 208 at the time of thefirst exemplary embodiment or with a general user such as the user Alogging in.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processes for executingthe start key 204 according to the touch determination time of the startkey 204 that is set by the login user. Each operation illustrated in theflowchart of FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 111 of the image processingapparatus 101 reading out the control program stored in the ROM 113 orthe external memory 121 into the RAM 112 and executing it. The presentflow is started by the CPU 111 detecting that the image processingapparatus 101 is started up.

Steps S601 to S604 and S606 are similar to the contents of steps S401 toS404 and S406 illustrated in FIG. 4, and therefore will not be describedhere.

In step S605, the start key control unit 305 acquires the differencebetween the time stored in step S604 and the time stored in step S602,and calculates the time length since the start key 204 has been presseduntil the finger has been separated therefrom. The authenticationprocessing unit 303 acquires the authentication information of the userlogging in at this time (the user A in this example), and the start keycontrol unit 305 acquires the touch determination time stored inassociation with the authentication information from the RAM 112 anddetermines whether the calculated time length is equal to or longer thanthe set touch determination time. For example, if the user is logging inas the user A as illustrated in FIG. 5, the start key control unit 305determines whether the calculated time length is 200 msec or longer. Onthe other hand, if the administrator is logging in at this time, thestart key control unit 305 determines whether the calculated time lengthis 25 msec or longer based on the touch determination time set in FIG.2D.

A table 1 indicates an example of the information managed in the RAM112. The user ID contained in the user authentication information andthe touch determination time set by this user are managed in associationwith each other.

TABLE 1 Touch Determination User ID Time (msec) Administrator 25 User B0 User A 200

If the start key control unit 305 determines that the calculated timelength is equal to or longer than the set touch determination time (YESin step S605), the processing proceeds to step S606. On the other hand,if the start key control unit 305 determines that the calculated timelength is not equal to or longer than the set touch determination time(NO in step S605), the processing ends without anything performed.

In this manner, the sensitivity of the start key 204 desired by eachuser can be realized by making the determination according to the touchdetermination time of the start key 204 set by the login user.

The applied touch determination time in a state before a login (forexample, FIG. 2A) may be a default touch determination time, or thetouch determination time set by the administrator user may be applied asit.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

In the first exemplary embodiment, whether to execute the key isdetermined with respect to the start key 204. The present exemplaryembodiment will be described regarding an example that performsprocessing for determining whether to execute a button for performingprocessing in the image processing apparatus 101 that is not the startkey 204.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the home screen for selecting theapplication 304 of the image processing apparatus 101. A job executionbutton 701 is a button for executing the preset application for copying,and, when the screen input control unit 302 detects that the userpresses it, the copy processing is performed according to the presetsetting content without the setting screen (for example, FIG. 2B)displayed. For example, a job execution button 702 is a button forexecuting the preset “scan and store” application, and, when the screeninput control unit 302 detects that the user presses it, the processingfor scanning the image and storing the scanned data is performed. Thejob execution buttons 701 and 702 are buttons registered while theexecution condition of the corresponding application is set in advance,and the processing is performed according to this execution condition atthe moment when the button is pressed.

Assume that the touch determination times of these job execution buttons701 and 702 can also be adjusted. An example of the screen at the timeof the adjustment is configured as illustrated in FIG. 9. The specificadjustment method has been described already with reference to FIGS. 2Dand 2E, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted here. InFIG. 9, the touch determination times of both the start key and the jobexecution button can be adjusted on one adjustment screen. However, theimage processing apparatus 101 may be configured to allow the respectivetouch determination times of the start key and the job execution buttonto be changed on different screens or as different items. The “executionbutton” in FIG. 9 is a collective term for buttons such as the start keyand the job execution button, and refers to a button for performing theprocessing without the setting screen displayed when the correspondingbutton is selected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processes for determiningwhether to execute the job execution button 701 or 702 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Each operationillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is realized by the CPU 111 of theimage processing apparatus 101 reading out the control program stored inthe ROM 113 or the external memory 121 into the RAM 112 and executingit. The present flow is started by the CPU 111 detecting that the imageprocessing apparatus 101 is started up.

In step S801, the screen input control unit 302 determines whether thejob execution button 701 or 702 is pressed. If the screen input controlunit 302 determines that the job execution button 701 or 702 is pressed(YES in step S801), the processing proceeds to step S802. On the otherhand, if the screen input control unit 302 determines that the jobexecution button 701 or 702 is not pressed (NO in step S801), theprocessing returns to step S801.

In step S802, the job execution button control unit 307 acquires thetime at which the job execution key 701 or 702 has been pressed from thetime management unit 306, and stores it into the RAM 112.

After that, in step S803, the screen input control unit 302 determineswhether the finger is separated from the job execution button 701 or702. If the screen input control unit 302 determines that the finger isseparated from the job execution button 701 or 702 (YES in step S803),the processing proceeds to step S804. On the other hand, if the screeninput control unit 302 determines that the finger is not separated fromthe job execution button 701 or 702 (NO in step S803), the processingreturns to step S803.

In step S804, the job execution button control unit 307 acquires thetime at which the finger has been separated from the job executionbutton 701 or 702 from the time management unit 306, and stores it intothe RAM 112.

After that, in step S805, the job execution button control unit 307acquires the difference between the time stored in step S804 and thetime stored in step S802, and calculates the time length since the jobexecution button 701 or 702 has been pressed until the finger has beenseparated therefrom. Then, the job execution button control unit 307acquires the touch determination time set in FIG. 2E from the RAM 112,and determines whether the calculated time length is equal to or longerthan the set touch determination time.

If the job execution button control unit 307 determines that thecalculated time length is equal to or longer than the set touchdetermination time (YES in step S805), the processing proceeds to stepS806. On the other hand, if the job execution button control unit 307determines that the calculated time length is not equal to or longerthan the set touch determination time (NO in step S805), the processingends without anything performed.

In step S806, the job execution button control unit 307 calls thecorresponding application 304, and executes the application 304according to the setting registered in advance and stored in the HDD117.

In this manner, the touch determination time can be adjusted withrespect to not only the start key 204 but also a button for performingthe processing without the intervention of the setting screen when thisbutton is pressed, like the job execution buttons 701 and 702. As aresult, the sensitivity of the job execution button desired by the usercan be realized.

Other Embodiments

The first to third exemplary embodiments have been described regardingthe configuration that adjusts the touch determination time of thespecific button (the execution button). However, the target with respectto which the touch determination time can be adjusted is not limited tothe button and may be a specific region. For example, a “timeline”region is prepared below the setting/registration button 203 in FIG. 2A,and two history buttons of “copy” and “scan and transmit” are disposedin this region. These buttons each represent the setting content of theprocessing performed by the image processing apparatus 101 that isdisplayed as a history, and, when the history button is selected, thesetting screen (FIG. 2B) with the corresponding setting contentreflected therein is displayed. When the user presses the start key 204after confirming the setting content on this setting screen, theprocessing is supposed to be performed according to the setting contentof the history button. In a case where the image processing apparatus101 can be set to “immediate execution”, which performs the processingaccording to the setting content without the intervention of the settingscreen when any of these history buttons is pressed, the imageprocessing apparatus 101 may be configured to allow the touchdetermination time of the timeline region itself to be changed so as toprevent the history button from being selected by mistake and unintendedprocessing from being performed. It is apparent that the imageprocessing apparatus 101 may be configured to allow the touchdetermination time of the history button to be changed.

The above-described exemplary embodiments have been described based onthe image processing apparatus 101 having a plurality of functions, suchas the copy function and the scanner function, by way of example, butthe present disclosure can also be applied to even an image processingapparatus having only a part of functions among them. Further, thepresent disclosure may also be applied to another information processingapparatus, such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile phone, a facsimile machine (FAX), a camera, a videocamera, or another image viewer.

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, the scope of the following claims are to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2019-194554, filed Oct. 25, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus including a touchpanel display configured to display a first software key for performingprocessing using a function of the image processing apparatus and asecond software key, and detect a user operation onto the first softwarekey and the second software key, the image processing apparatuscomprising: an adjustment unit configured to adjust, in an instructionportion of a user, a time since the first software key is touched untilthe first software key is released therefrom according to a useroperation.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the time of the first software key is changed without a changemade to the time set to the second software key displayed on the touchpanel display, in a case where the time since the first software key istouched until the first software key is released is changed by theadjustment unit.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the image processing apparatus displays a setting screen forsetting a condition when performing the processing using the function,and wherein the first software key includes a software key that isdisplayed together with the setting screen and is provided to performthe processing according to the condition set on the setting screen. 4.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisingan authentication control unit configured to allow the user to log in,wherein the time is adjusted by the adjustment unit in a case where theauthentication control unit determines that the user has anadministrator authority.
 5. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus displays a settingscreen for setting a condition when performing the processing using thefunction, and wherein the first software key includes a software key forperforming the processing without intervention of the setting screen. 6.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisinga management unit configured to manage the time adjusted by theadjustment unit and information about the user logging in the imageprocessing apparatus when the time is adjusted by the adjustment unit.7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theimage processing apparatus has at least a copy function and a scanfunction.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storinginstructions that when executed perform a method for controlling animage apparatus, image processing apparatus including a touch paneldisplay configured to display a first software key for performingprocessing using a function of the image processing apparatus and asecond software key, and detect a user operation onto the first softwarekey and the second software key, the method comprising: adjusting, in aninstruction portion of a user, a time since the first software key istouched until the first software key is released therefrom according toa user operation.
 9. A method for controlling an image processingapparatus, the image processing apparatus including a touch paneldisplay configured to display a first software key for performingprocessing using a function of the image processing apparatus and asecond software key, and detect a user operation onto the first softwarekey and the second software key, the method comprising: adjusting, in aninstruction portion of a user, a time since the first software key istouched until the first software key is released therefrom according toa user operation.